Walter Keeler Workshop at Archie Bray

Just wanted to post some photos here of the workshop I just came from out in Montana at The Archie Bray Foundation. I found out this past Summer while visiting Wally’s studio in Wales, that he was planning on attending NCECA this year, as well as giving the workshop at The Bray the week before. As it’s probably the only chance in my lifetime to get to attend a Walter Keeler workshop, I jumped at the chance the day registration opened. I feel extremely lucky that I was able to attend.

For those not familiar with his work, you should make yourself familiar with it! Keeler makes salt glazed pots, drawing on a range of influences; particularly early industrial pottery such as Staffordshire Creamware and agricultural ware such as milk churns and oil cans. His pots are wheelthrown then hand-altered, they are sculptural yet functional. He was warm, entertaining, funny and knowledgable and really gave everyone a fantastic two day hands-on experience!

Default Gallery Type Template

This is the default gallery type template, located in:/home/gallaghe/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/products/photocrati_nextgen/modules/nextgen_gallery_display/templates/index.php.

If you're seeing this, it's because the gallery type you selected has not
provided a template of it's own.

If ever you’re in the Helena, Montana area, The Archie Bray Foundation is definitely worth a visit all on it’s own. Not only is there an ever-changing current gallery exhibit, but they have some fabulous pots in their permanent galleries, including some really excellent examples of Bernard Leach, Shoji Hamada and Peter Volkous. The grounds of the Bray is an interesting exhibit all on it’s own – full of pots, sculptural pieces, historic beehive kilns, ceramic garden-scapes as well a generous assortment of wood fire kilns. You can walk into the artist residence studios and take a look at work being produced, speak with the artists, take photos and in general, be hugely inspired. Here are a few shots in and around The Bray, plus a quick look at some of the artist studios. For those who are not ceramically inclined, the scenery in and around Helena is stunning and well worth a drive around the area.

Here are some slide images taken around the grounds at Archie Bray -

Default Gallery Type Template

This is the default gallery type template, located in:/home/gallaghe/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/products/photocrati_nextgen/modules/nextgen_gallery_display/templates/index.php.

If you're seeing this, it's because the gallery type you selected has not
provided a template of it's own.

And finally, some quick images of the artist residence studios. I arrived on a Sunday morning so not much was going on in the residence studios, but Kenyon Hanson and Sean O’Connell were both busy at work. I genuinely enjoyed speaking with them and I thank them both for the time they took with me.

Yuk - just more yuk!! The predicted snow storm has already started. I'm here at the studio to clean the pellet stove and stock up on more pellets, then rescuing freshly made pots to bring home in case I can't get back in to refuel the stove. Hope to get back to work tomorrow.

Brought in some water from home today but I have to say it didn't last very long and turned icy cold super fast. Did manage to eek out a few items. These are small shot glasses thrown off the hump and faceted wet. Heading to the shot glass exchange at this year's NCECA. (I think the plumber should get here tomorrow - yay!)

From Harrisburg or Baltimore; Take the I-83 Loganville exit towards Loganville. Continue straight on Rt 214 for 5 miles until the road comes to a 'T' in Seven Valleys. Turn right onto 214/North Main Street and make your second left onto Green Valley Road. The pottery is 1/4 mile up the road and on the left.

From York: Head west on Rt. 30 and turn left onto Rt 616S/Trinity Road. Continue for 5.8 miles, then turn right onto Green Valley Road. The pottery is 1/4 mile up the road on the left.

About the Potter

I consider myself a pragmatic artist; a dichotomy in terms to many other artists out there, I'm sure. After spending 20-odd years as a graphic designer and weary of facing a computer screen day after day, I longed to get into a more hands-on tactile form of art. And so began my love of clay.

I've been very, very lucky to cross paths with some extraordinary potters and teachers both here and in the UK. They've all contributed a large part to not only what I do, but also, how I see. These sharing people are all connected through a large circle of knowledge, history and experiences, and in looking back, and forward, I am honored to be included in a small part of that ring.

Much of my influence in both method and historical perspective, comes from friend and mentor, Bill van Gilder, to whom I am ever grateful each time I sit down at the wheel.